I'm 15 and Moving with My Family from Ireland to England. What Should I Know?: A Complete Guide

Being uprooted at such a young age is an immense undertaking. You'll go from being in a school that you know well, surrounded by friends and all the accents you have grown up hearing, to packing your boxes and setting sail for a new life on the other side of the Irish Sea. It can be thrilling, but don't pretend like it isn't frightening too. 

The silver lining? Moving between Ireland and England is easier than moving from most other countries, with the help of the Common Travel Area. Still, there will definitely be some challenges to getting used to your new surroundings. In this guide, we'll cover everything from registering for school and finding friends to figuring out how the transport system works in your new city.

School: What You Need to Know Before You Arrive

Clearly, your education is the issue of primary importance for you and it should be the priority for your family too. However, the good news is that registration in a secondary English state school is rather easy, especially if your nationality is Irish. Since there is the Common Travel Area, you do not require a visa in order to study and reside in the UK. Thus, it simplifies all the process greatly.

What should you do? Once you know the address where you are going to stay in England, you should make the first move and ask your parents to contact the local council and discover the nearest secondary school for your area. Then you will have to book an appointment at the school. Do not forget to come with your original documents rather than copies. They usually include your passport, birth certificate, and evidence of your residence such as a tenancy agreement or a bill. As a result, your school will evaluate your year group allocation taking into consideration your age and the school year you have just finished.

The most prominent difference that you will notice is the level of specialization. In the United Kingdom, you will usually choose your major subjects right from the beginning of secondary education as opposed to studying a wide variety of topics that you would have done back in Ireland. You will be focusing on your examination subjects that you will do at the end of your secondary education and take the GCSE exams (at the age of sixteen).

The Social Side: Accents, Culture, and Avoiding 'The Weird Name' Trap

No offense, but it's the social aspect that probably makes you nervous. You may speak the same language in Ireland and England, but the cultural background differs. What strikes first of all is the incredible amount of various accents. Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Birmingham – it doesn't really matter where a person comes from as there are many different English accents that you will have to get accustomed to.

There is also an element of casual ignorance. Irish people who immigrated to England throughout the previous decades had to deal with anti-Irish jokes and stereotypes. Though today the situation has changed significantly (there is nothing cooler than being Watford Taxi Irish due to popular music and culture), you can still face some ignorant remarks occasionally. All you need is to be thick-skinned, proud of your nationality and remember that most people are simply curious.

Getting Around: The Transport System Explained

England's public transport is a world away from what you might be used to in Ireland. It's extensive, but it can also be expensive and confusing at first.

Trains and Buses

Get a 16-25 Railcard as soon as you can. It costs around £30 a year and saves you a third on most train fares . This is a game-changer if you plan to explore. For buses, look into local student saver cards. The key rule: always join the back of the queue and wait your turn . Queue-jumping is a major social faux pas in England.

Getting Around Your New Hometown (e.g., Watford)

For people relocating to towns such as Watford, the transport system will be found to be highly developed. Though the buses and trains will be common, one will realize very fast that the best mode of transportation in terms of convenience will be the taxis, especially when the need arises for nighttime travels or when there isn't much public transport available. The taxi could either be hailed from the taxi ranks or off the streets as a Hackney carriage (the black cab), or one could book in advance a private hire vehicle. For a stress-free travel from the airport to your new destination, it would be worth considering the booking in advance of a Watford Airport Taxis, which provides a door-to-door transport service for your family without having to carry those bulky bags from the train stations after a long journey in the plane.

The Weather and What to Wear

Weather stereotype is true indeed. England is renowned for its constant rain and cloudy weather, and the climate can be very unpredictable . In summer, you may expect a windy or even rainy day. It means that you have to get new clothes. A warm and waterproof jacket will become your constant companion along with many layers. They are not joking when they say that "four seasons in one day" takes place in England. Do not be the new guy who freezes in a hoodie while others wear coats.

Also read: What Are Some Things That People Who Live Outside of England May Not Realize About Living in England?

Everyday Life: The 'Unwritten' Rules

But there are many unwritten rules you can fall into if you’re not aware of them. So here’s a short list to help you survive in the new environment:

• Queuing: Always queue! Whenever you need to take a bus or get some coffee, wait in the queue.

• "Sorry": Saying "sorry" is instinctive in England. You use it either if you bump into somebody or vice versa. Sometimes, "sorry" isn’t used as an apology but simply to be polite. And you will find yourself saying sorry after just a couple of weeks.

• Eye Contact: Try to avoid making eye contact with strangers in public transport. It makes people feel uncomfortable. You’ll notice that all people have their eyes glued to their phones or books.

• Table Manners: Don’t put your elbows on the table and don’t talk with a full mouth. It’s also polite to lay your knife and fork parallel on the plate when you finish eating.

• Tipping: You should pay 10% for service if you go to a restaurant, unless it is said that "Service Included".

Final Advice

Transferring from Ireland to England will be a big adventure in every sense of the word. There will be lots of little but important differences between the two places, even though you may see many parallels between them. Accept it, take part in activities at your university, play sports, and say "yes" to new experiences (as far as you can). Orientation Week of your new university will be your perfect chance to socialize.

It is going to be strange and confusing at first. You will miss your native place very much, and you won't feel yourself in the right place. Just wait. The United Kingdom has an extremely rich student life, which includes various nationalities and cultures, and its cuisine is very diverse due to the diversity of the population. You'll be a professional in no time!